Cross-tie.



G. W. VROMAN. CROSS T113. APPLICATION HLBD DB0.23,1912.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

T EXE.

f eoe W l/mmv GEORGE W. VROMAN, OF HARTSHORNE, JKLAHOMA.

CROSS-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented All, 19,1 9713.

Application led December 28, 1812-. Serial No. 739,118.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. VROMAN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Hartshorne, in the county of Pittsburg and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cross-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cross ties of the metallic type and the object in view is to simplify the construction and improve the efficiency of such ties while reducing the initial expense as well as the expense of maintenance. y

The invention comprises end sections and a connecting gagebar therefor, each end section being formed of nietal and provided with an angular recess for the reception of a rail-retaining spike.

The invention also comprises, as a new article of manufacture, a section of'tie having a relatively large surface area and pendent flanges spaced for forming grooves or i pockets in the under portion of the section.

T he invention still further comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations .and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter speciedand claimed.

In t-he accompanying drawing t-Figure l is a top plan view of a tie embodying the features of the present invention, fragments of the rails being seen in position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough taken onthe planes indicated by line 2-2 of Figfl. Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on theplarie indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the track and transversely of the cross tie substantially on the plane indicated by line 4-4 of` Fig. 1, the rail being seen in elevation. Fig. 5 is a fragment ary vertical section of a slightly modified embodiment.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1, 1 indicate the end sections connected by the tieor gage bar 2, thevbar 2 preferablyv consisting of a flat bar extending in groovesV 3 provided longitudinally of the respective sections 1, the flat bar at its ends being turned to form engaging hook portions 4 extending downwardly, each in a recess or pocket 5 formed in the respective end section 1. Each end section 1 iscomposed of a relatively large thin flat body presenting a,

comparatively even flat upper face and having a central flange 6 pendent from and extending longitudinally of t-heunder face of the body, and side flanges 7, 7 similarly dis- `each recess 12 may be otherwise vtioiially curved or distorted.

posed, the side flanges being connected at their ends by end flanges 8, .thus producing pockets or grooves 9, 9 extending longitudinally and formed in the under face of the body. The size of each section 1 may be varied according to the class ofservice required, but for the average-use a section possessing a body three feet long and two feetwide, thus representing a square surface area of six feet, is effectiveaiid can be produced at a very reasonable.expense-.proportionate to the service of which it iS capable.

The gage bar 2 is preferably disposed centrally of the respective sections" 1 and extends beneath tlie respective rail 10 which rests upon the section and beyond the same so that the ends of the bar 2 are exposed and may be inspected readily for determining whether the cross tie is in perfect. condition. Spaced at cach side of the bar 2 each of the sections 1 is formed with recesses in which are disposed cushioning blocks 11 preferably of hard wood,said blocks 11 being adapted to carry the Weight and to receive the vibrations of the rail- 10. To Aadequately connect the rail to the cross tie, each section l is provided at the op osite sides of the rail with a vertical recess 2 which is of angular formation, that is, bent longitudinally for.

producing an offset portion 13, but obviously or -addi- Each recess is adapted forreceiving :i ie- 'taining spike or pin 14, and it is obvious 'that as the spike or pin is driven in place` in the recess and is thus compelled to follow the contour of the recess,- bending or buckling itself, it will be caused to be firmly anchored in the respective sectioii and as effectively retained iii place as if wedged into position asin the instance of the use of an .ordinary wooden cross tie. Each of the recesses 12 is disposed for insuring the proper relative disposition of the respective pin 14 so that the head of the pin will lap the lower flange of the respective rail 10. As a matter of additional strength,` a clip or flange-engaging plate 15 may be provided for one or more of' the section 1 and each plate has a flat or horizontal portion adapted to rest on the flat upper face of its respective section and an inclined portion adapted to rest upon the upper face of the respective lower flange of the rail. Obviously when allot .the spikes spikes 14 of each Il arc notprovided with clips 1.5 those -as indicated in Fig. o

'olnitted will he those at the. inner side'of there denoted by the reference character 12.

ymay be provided with a tubularliner 16 vwhich ofcourse is of material of requisite hardness for insuring the following of the recess by the retaining spikes. In theembodime'nt illustrated in Figs. v1 to 4 the re.- cesscs ,12 extend downwardly through the web or flange 6, and in thc embodiment illustratcd in Fig. 5 the recesses 12 extend down-- wardly in lthe web or flange 6', said .web being pendent from the body of the section 1 and the recesses being adapted to receive spikes 14 similar in constructionand arrangement to the spikes 14.

.Each end section 1 may be of steel or other suitable material and when ormedof cast iron I prefer to harden'the bottom or under face of the section by casting the same on a chill for increasing the strength directly beneath the rail. i

Having thus describedthe invention, What is claimed as new is 1. In a cross tie, the combination of end sections having longitudinal grooves, said end sections being spaced and alined endwise, and av gage bar conncctin said end sections and extending within t e grooves thereof and having means of anchorage to the end sections, each-ofthev end sections being adapted to support a rail, the means Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Washingtomh. C.

having its hooked en of anchorage iftlierhar being disposed out-- side the railiiposition for ready inspection and the bar extending outsideuof the rail. i i

2,111 a. cross tie, the combination of end sections adapted to sustain rails, each formed with a recess outside its respective rail, and a gage bar having a hooked en d portion and extendilw beneath the rails and portion engaging the recesses of theend sectionsoutside of the respective rails for anchoring the sections together.

3. An end section for a metallic cross tie comprising a body of relatively soft metal adapted to have a rail sustained thereupon in a position extending transversely of the body, a central flange pendent from said body and extending longitudinally thereof, and side flanges spaced from the central tlange and extending substantially parallel thereto, affording grooves between the central Harige and side anges, the under face of the body being hardened.

4. In a cross tie, a metallic 'end sectionhaving a substantially vertical spike-receiving recess curved laterally intermediate the ends of the recess, said recess being surrounded with material of greater hardness than the material of the main portion of the end section, the bottom or under face of the end section being hardened for increasing the strength immediately beneath the rail.

In testimony -whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE'W. VROMAN.

.lVitnesses B. H. SIMS,

G, E. GLENDENYING.

. Commissioner of Patents, 

